How to do a clean install of Windows 11 step by step

A clean install removes old programs, drivers and errors and often makes a PC noticeably faster. It deletes everything on the system drive, so prepare first.

1. Before you start

• Back up your files (documents, photos, game saves, browser bookmarks) to another disk or the cloud. The system drive will be wiped.
• Note your accounts and licence keys for paid software.
• A USB flash drive of 8 GB or more (it will be erased) and another working PC or a working Windows.
• Your PC must support TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot (see our FACEIT guide to enable them).
• Windows 10/11 licences are normally tied to the hardware digital licence. After reinstalling on the same PC you can choose I don’t have a product key and Windows activates itself once online. After changing the motherboard you may need to sign in with the Microsoft account used before or enter the key.

2. Make the installation USB

1. Download the official image or the Media Creation Tool only from Microsoft: microsoft.com/software-download/windows11.
2. Option A: run the Media Creation Tool → Create installation media → USB flash drive.
3. Option B: download the ISO from the same page and write it with Rufus (rufus.ie). In Rufus choose the ISO, GPT and UEFI, and click Start. Rufus can also offer options such as a local account before writing.

3. Boot from the USB

Restart and press the boot menu key repeatedly:

• ASUS: F8
• MSI: F11
• Gigabyte: F12
• ASRock: F11

Choose the USB drive (the entry with UEFI). If you cannot find the key, open BIOS with Delete or F2 and change the boot order there.

4. Install Windows

1. Choose the language and click Next → Install now.
2. On the key screen click I don’t have a product key and choose your edition (Home or Pro, the same as before).
3. Choose Custom: Install Windows only.
4. Be careful with the disks: identify the right drive by its size. Delete all partitions of the system drive only, select the unallocated space and click Next. Do not touch your other disks with data.
5. Wait for the copy. The PC restarts a few times. Remove the USB drive when you see the first screen of setup after the restart.
6. Complete the first setup: region, keyboard, network and account. Windows 11 Home asks for an internet connection and a Microsoft account. A local account is possible if you prepared the USB with Rufus.

Local account via command: on the network or account screen press Shift+F10 to open a command prompt and type start ms-cxh:localonly. The window restarts and offers a local account. The old command oobe\bypassnro was removed by Microsoft in newer builds, and Microsoft keeps closing such workarounds, so a command may stop working after an update. The most reliable way is a USB made with Rufus.

5. What to do right after installing

1. Windows Update: Settings → Windows Update → install everything and restart until it says you are up to date.
2. Chipset and LAN/audio drivers from your motherboard maker’s support page (ASUS, MSI, Gigabyte, ASRock).
3. Graphics driver from NVIDIA, AMD or Intel (see our drivers guide).
4. Check activation: Settings → System → Activation.
5. Turn on XMP/EXPO and Resizable BAR in BIOS (see our guides).
6. Set your monitor to 144 Hz or its maximum in Display settings.
7. Install your browser, games launchers and essential programs. Remove programs you do not need from startup (Task Manager → Startup apps).
8. Create a restore point or a system image so the next reinstall is faster.

6. Common problems

• The USB does not appear in the boot menu: try another USB port (USB 2.0 on the back), recreate the USB in GPT/UEFI mode, or disable Fast Boot.
• “This PC can’t run Windows 11”: enable TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot in BIOS.
• No drives visible during install: the storage driver is needed (Intel RST / VMD). Download it from your board’s support page and load it with Load driver.
• No internet during setup: install the LAN driver from another PC, or connect through your phone’s USB tethering.